The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems Part 9

Thus may ye see, that wisdom nor richess, Beauty, nor sleight, nor strength, nor hardiness Ne may with Venus holde champartie*, *divided possession <43> For as her liste the world may she gie*. *guide Lo, all these folk so caught were in her las* *snare Till they for woe full often said, Alas!

Suffice these ensamples one or two, Although I could reckon a thousand mo'.

The statue of Venus, glorious to see Was naked floating in the large sea, And from the navel down all cover'd was With waves green, and bright as any gla.s.s.

A citole <44> in her right hand hadde she, And on her head, full seemly for to see, A rose garland fresh, and well smelling, Above her head her doves flickering Before her stood her sone Cupido, Upon his shoulders winges had he two; And blind he was, as it is often seen; A bow he bare, and arrows bright and keen.

Why should I not as well eke tell you all The portraiture, that was upon the wall Within the temple of mighty Mars the Red?

All painted was the wall in length and brede* *breadth Like to the estres* of the grisly place *interior chambers That hight the great temple of Mars in Thrace, In thilke* cold and frosty region, *that There as Mars hath his sovereign mansion.

In which there dwelled neither man nor beast, With knotty gnarry* barren trees old *gnarled Of stubbes sharp and hideous to behold; In which there ran a rumble and a sough*, *groaning noise As though a storm should bursten every bough: And downward from an hill under a bent* *slope There stood the temple of Mars Armipotent, Wrought all of burnish'd steel, of which th' entry Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.

And thereout came *a rage and such a vise*, *such a furious voice*

That it made all the gates for to rise.

The northern light in at the doore shone, For window on the walle was there none Through which men mighten any light discern.

The doors were all of adamant etern, Y-clenched *overthwart and ende-long* *crossways and lengthways*

With iron tough, and, for to make it strong, Every pillar the temple to sustain Was tunne-great*, of iron bright and sheen. *thick as a tun (barrel) There saw I first the dark imagining Of felony, and all the compa.s.sing; The cruel ire, as red as any glede*, *live coal The picke-purse<45>, and eke the pale dread; The smiler with the knife under the cloak, The shepen* burning with the blacke smoke *stable <46> The treason of the murd'ring in the bed, The open war, with woundes all be-bled; Conteke* with b.l.o.o.d.y knife, and sharp menace. *contention, discord All full of chirking* was that sorry place. *creaking, jarring noise The slayer of himself eke saw I there, His hearte-blood had bathed all his hair: The nail y-driven in the shode* at night, *hair of the head <47> The colde death, with mouth gaping upright.

Amiddes of the temple sat Mischance, With discomfort and sorry countenance; Eke saw I Woodness* laughing in his rage, *Madness Armed Complaint, Outhees*, and fierce Outrage; *Outcry The carrain* in the bush, with throat y-corve**, *corpse **slashed A thousand slain, and not *of qualm y-storve*; *dead of sickness*

The tyrant, with the prey by force y-reft; The town destroy'd, that there was nothing left.

Yet saw I brent* the s.h.i.+ppes hoppesteres, <48> *burnt The hunter strangled with the wilde bears: The sow freting* the child right in the cradle; *devouring <49> The cook scalded, for all his longe ladle.

Nor was forgot, *by th'infortune of Mart* *through the misfortune The carter overridden with his cart; of war*

Under the wheel full low he lay adown.

There were also of Mars' division, The armourer, the bowyer*, and the smith, *maker of bows That forgeth sharp swordes on his st.i.th*. *anvil And all above depainted in a tower Saw I Conquest, sitting in great honour, With thilke* sharpe sword over his head *that Hanging by a subtle y-twined thread.

Painted the slaughter was of Julius<50>, Of cruel Nero, and Antonius: Although at that time they were yet unborn, Yet was their death depainted there beforn, By menacing of Mars, right by figure, So was it showed in that portraiture, As is depainted in the stars above, Who shall be slain, or elles dead for love.

Sufficeth one ensample in stories old, I may not reckon them all, though I wo'ld.

The statue of Mars upon a carte* stood *chariot Armed, and looked grim as he were wood*, *mad And over his head there shone two figures Of starres, that be cleped in scriptures, That one Puella, that other Rubeus. <51> This G.o.d of armes was arrayed thus: A wolf there stood before him at his feet With eyen red, and of a man he eat: With subtle pencil painted was this story, In redouting* of Mars and of his glory. *reverance, fear

Now to the temple of Dian the chaste As shortly as I can I will me haste, To telle you all the descriptioun.

Depainted be the walles up and down Of hunting and of shamefast chast.i.ty.

There saw I how woful Calistope,<52> When that Dian aggrieved was with her, Was turned from a woman to a bear, And after was she made the lodestar*: *pole star Thus was it painted, I can say no far*; *farther Her son is eke a star as men may see.

There saw I Dane <53> turn'd into a tree, I meane not the G.o.ddess Diane, But Peneus' daughter, which that hight Dane.

There saw I Actaeon an hart y-maked*, *made For vengeance that he saw Dian all naked: I saw how that his houndes have him caught, And freten* him, for that they knew him not. *devour Yet painted was, a little farthermore How Atalanta hunted the wild boar; And Meleager, and many other mo', For which Diana wrought them care and woe.

There saw I many another wondrous story, The which me list not drawen to memory.

This G.o.ddess on an hart full high was set*, *seated With smalle houndes all about her feet, And underneath her feet she had a moon, Waxing it was, and shoulde wane soon.

In gaudy green her statue clothed was, With bow in hand, and arrows in a case*. *quiver Her eyen caste she full low adown, Where Pluto hath his darke regioun.

A woman travailing was her beforn, But, for her child so longe was unborn, Full piteously Lucina <54> gan she call, And saide; "Help, for thou may'st best of all."

Well could he painte lifelike that it wrought; With many a florin he the hues had bought.

Now be these listes made, and Theseus, That at his greate cost arrayed thus The temples, and the theatre every deal*, *part <55> When it was done, him liked wonder well.

But stint* I will of Theseus a lite**, *cease speaking **little And speak of Palamon and of Arcite.

The day approacheth of their returning, That evereach an hundred knights should bring, The battle to darraine* as I you told; *contest And to Athens, their covenant to hold, Hath ev'reach of them brought an hundred knights, Well-armed for the war at alle rights.

And sickerly* there trowed** many a man, *surely <56> **believed That never, sithen* that the world began, *since For to speaken of knighthood of their hand, As far as G.o.d hath maked sea and land, Was, of so few, so n.o.ble a company.

For every wight that loved chivalry, And would, *his thankes, have a pa.s.sant name*, *thanks to his own Had prayed, that he might be of that game, efforts, have a And well was him, that thereto chosen was. surpa.s.sing name*

For if there fell to-morrow such a case, Ye knowe well, that every l.u.s.ty knight, That loveth par amour, and hath his might Were it in Engleland, or elleswhere, They would, their thankes, willen to be there, T' fight for a lady; Benedicite, It were a l.u.s.ty* sighte for to see. *pleasing And right so fared they with Palamon; With him there wente knightes many one.

Some will be armed in an habergeon, And in a breast-plate, and in a gipon*; *short doublet.

And some will have *a pair of plates* large; *back and front armour*

And some will have a Prusse* s.h.i.+eld, or targe; *Prussian Some will be armed on their legges weel; Some have an axe, and some a mace of steel.

There is no newe guise*, but it was old. *fas.h.i.+on Armed they weren, as I have you told, Evereach after his opinion.

There may'st thou see coming with Palamon Licurgus himself, the great king of Thrace: Black was his beard, and manly was his face.

The circles of his eyen in his head They glowed betwixte yellow and red, And like a griffin looked he about, With kemped* haires on his browes stout; *combed<57> His limbs were great, his brawns were hard and strong, His shoulders broad, his armes round and long.

And as the guise* was in his country, *fas.h.i.+on Full high upon a car of gold stood he, With foure white bulles in the trace.

Instead of coat-armour on his harness, With yellow nails, and bright as any gold, He had a beare's skin, coal-black for old*. *age His long hair was y-kempt behind his back, As any raven's feather it shone for black.

A wreath of gold *arm-great*, of huge weight, *thick as a man's arm*

Upon his head sate, full of stones bright, Of fine rubies and clear diamants.

About his car there wente white alauns*, *greyhounds <58> Twenty and more, as great as any steer, To hunt the lion or the wilde bear, And follow'd him, with muzzle fast y-bound, Collars of gold, and torettes* filed round. *rings An hundred lordes had he in his rout* *retinue Armed full well, with heartes stern and stout.

With Arcita, in stories as men find, The great Emetrius the king of Ind, Upon a *steede bay* trapped in steel, *bay horse*

Cover'd with cloth of gold diapred* well, *decorated Came riding like the G.o.d of armes, Mars.

His coat-armour was of *a cloth of Tars*, *a kind of silk*

Couched* with pearls white and round and great *trimmed His saddle was of burnish'd gold new beat; A mantelet on his shoulders hanging, Bretful* of rubies red, as fire sparkling. *brimful His crispe hair like ringes was y-run, And that was yellow, glittering as the sun.

His nose was high, his eyen bright citrine*, *pale yellow His lips were round, his colour was sanguine, A fewe fracknes* in his face y-sprent**, *freckles **sprinkled Betwixte yellow and black somedeal y-ment* *mixed <59> And as a lion he *his looking cast* *cast about his eyes*

Of five and twenty year his age I cast* *reckon His beard was well begunnen for to spring; His voice was as a trumpet thundering.

Upon his head he wore of laurel green A garland fresh and l.u.s.ty to be seen; Upon his hand he bare, for his delight, An eagle tame, as any lily white.

An hundred lordes had he with him there, All armed, save their heads, in all their gear, Full richely in alle manner things.

For trust ye well, that earles, dukes, and kings Were gather'd in this n.o.ble company, For love, and for increase of chivalry.

About this king there ran on every part Full many a tame lion and leopart.

And in this wise these lordes *all and some* *all and sundry*

Be on the Sunday to the city come Aboute prime<60>, and in the town alight.

This Theseus, this Duke, this worthy knight When he had brought them into his city, And inned* them, ev'reach at his degree, *lodged He feasteth them, and doth so great labour To *easen them*, and do them all honour, *make them comfortable*

That yet men weene* that no mannes wit *think Of none estate could amenden* it. *improve The minstrelsy, the service at the feast, The greate giftes to the most and least, The rich array of Theseus' palace, Nor who sate first or last upon the dais.<61> What ladies fairest be, or best dancing Or which of them can carol best or sing, Or who most feelingly speaketh of love; What hawkes sitten on the perch above, What houndes liggen* on the floor adown, *lie Of all this now make I no mentioun But of th'effect; that thinketh me the best Now comes the point, and hearken if you lest.* *please

The Sunday night, ere day began to spring, When Palamon the larke hearde sing, Although it were not day by houres two, Yet sang the lark, and Palamon right tho* *then With holy heart, and with an high courage, Arose, to wenden* on his pilgrimage *go Unto the blissful Cithera benign, I meane Venus, honourable and digne*. *worthy And in her hour <62> he walketh forth a pace Unto the listes, where her temple was, And down he kneeleth, and with humble cheer* *demeanour And hearte sore, he said as ye shall hear.

"Fairest of fair, O lady mine Venus, Daughter to Jove, and spouse of Vulca.n.u.s, Thou gladder of the mount of Citheron!<41> For thilke love thou haddest to Adon <63> Have pity on my bitter teares smart, And take mine humble prayer to thine heart.

Alas! I have no language to tell Th'effecte, nor the torment of mine h.e.l.l; Mine hearte may mine harmes not betray; I am so confused, that I cannot say.

But mercy, lady bright, that knowest well My thought, and seest what harm that I feel.

Consider all this, and *rue upon* my sore, *take pity on*

As wisly* as I shall for evermore *truly Enforce my might, thy true servant to be, And holde war alway with chast.i.ty: That make I mine avow*, so ye me help. *vow, promise I keepe not of armes for to yelp,* *boast Nor ask I not to-morrow to have victory, Nor renown in this case, nor vaine glory Of *prize of armes*, blowing up and down, *praise for valour*

But I would have fully possessioun Of Emily, and die in her service; Find thou the manner how, and in what wise.

I *recke not but* it may better be *do not know whether*

To have vict'ry of them, or they of me, So that I have my lady in mine arms.

For though so be that Mars is G.o.d of arms, Your virtue is so great in heaven above, That, if you list, I shall well have my love.

Thy temple will I wors.h.i.+p evermo', And on thine altar, where I ride or go, I will do sacrifice, and fires bete*. *make, kindle And if ye will not so, my lady sweet, Then pray I you, to-morrow with a spear That Arcita me through the hearte bear Then reck I not, when I have lost my life, Though that Arcita win her to his wife.

This is th' effect and end of my prayere, -- Give me my love, thou blissful lady dear."

When th' orison was done of Palamon, His sacrifice he did, and that anon, Full piteously, with alle circ.u.mstances, *All tell I not as now* his observances. *although I tell not now*

But at the last the statue of Venus shook, And made a signe, whereby that he took That his prayer accepted was that day.

For though the signe shewed a delay, Yet wist he well that granted was his boon; And with glad heart he went him home full soon.

The third hour unequal <64> that Palamon Began to Venus' temple for to gon, Up rose the sun, and up rose Emily, And to the temple of Dian gan hie.

Her maidens, that she thither with her lad*, *led Th' incense, the clothes, and the remnant all That to the sacrifice belonge shall, The hornes full of mead, as was the guise; There lacked nought to do her sacrifice.

Smoking* the temple full of clothes fair, *draping <65> This Emily with hearte debonnair* *gentle Her body wash'd with water of a well.

But how she did her rite I dare not tell; But* it be any thing in general; *unless And yet it were a game* to hearen all *pleasure To him that meaneth well it were no charge: But it is good a man to *be at large*. *do as he will*

Her bright hair combed was, untressed all.

A coronet of green oak cerriall <66> Upon her head was set full fair and meet.

Two fires on the altar gan she bete, And did her thinges, as men may behold In Stace of Thebes <67>, and these bookes old.

When kindled was the fire, with piteous cheer Unto Dian she spake as ye may hear.

"O chaste G.o.ddess of the woodes green, To whom both heav'n and earth and sea is seen, Queen of the realm of Pluto dark and low, G.o.ddess of maidens, that mine heart hast know Full many a year, and wost* what I desire, *knowest To keep me from the vengeance of thine ire, That Actaeon aboughte* cruelly: *earned; suffered from Chaste G.o.ddess, well wottest thou that I Desire to be a maiden all my life, Nor never will I be no love nor wife.

I am, thou wost*, yet of thy company, *knowest A maid, and love hunting and venery*, *field sports And for to walken in the woodes wild, And not to be a wife, and be with child.

Nought will I know the company of man.

Now help me, lady, since ye may and can, For those three formes <68> that thou hast in thee.